Cost Factors in UXO Risk Management
Cost Factors in UXO Risk Management
Undertaking any development or construction project requires careful risk management. One of the most critical and often underestimated considerations is the potential presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The application of a professional UXO risk management process is a vital component to safety, compliance and project continuity.
While costs can vary for the activities required at different stages in the CIRIA C681 process, understanding the key factors that influence pricing helps project managers budget effectively and make informed decisions. This guide breaks down those cost factors, providing clarity for developers, project managers and planners.
Why UXO Risk Assessments Are a Crucial First Step
Zoned Risk Map
A UXO risk assessment is a crucial first step to ensuring Value for Money in terms of UXO risk Management through:
Analysis of Risk based on detailed research
Staged process – A Preliminary UXO Risk Assessment is often the only action that needs to be taken for sites in the UK. This preliminary desktop UXO study can cost between £50 to £150 and be complete inside 48 hrs. This vital first step forms the basis for whether or not a site can be ‘ruled out’ from needing further investigation.
Evidence Informed UXO Detailed risk assessment and risk management plan - The UXO Detailed risk Assessment is the next part in the process. At Artios this service always covers both Stage 2 and 3, with the latter being a clear and concise UXO risk management plan, which communicates what mitigations should be conducted where and forwhat specific development activities.
Ensuring Legal Compliance – Meeting planning conditions and health & safety legislation (e.g CDM 2015).
Preventing Costly Delays – Identifying risks early avoids sudden site stoppages, which can be exponentially more expensive than the assessment itself.
What Influences UXO Risk Management Costs?
Sizeable metallic ‘anomaly’ detected during survey at a ‘higher’ risk site
The cost of a UXO risk management is not a one-size-fits-all figure. It depends on a combination of project-specific actors. including:
Potential Sources of UXO contamination – The nature of potential UXO contamination assessed to affect the site, e.g. UXO washed up on shore in coastal areas can be easier to detect than deep-buried aerial delivered bombs.
Project Size & Scope – The total area of the site and whether the project is phased. Larger sites require more analysis and reporting.
Site Location & Risk Level – Areas with historical/present-day military activity or areas heavily bombed during WWII typically present higher risk profiles, necessitating more detailed scrutiny.
Extent of mitigation required –. The technical complexity of the required mitigations (Stage 4), based on the nature of the assessed UXO threat, and the area to be covered, are key factors in determining costs. E.g. Cone-penetration Testing (CPT) for deep buried ordnance is more expensive than a surface detector sweep.
Project Timeline – Urgent turnaround times can affect resource allocation and cost.
Impact of UXO Risk on Overall Project Planning and Achieving Value for Money:
In addition to the obvious Health & Safety risk posed to staff, the impact of an encounter with an item of UXO at a project site can be disastrous to project time and cost, given the inevitable delays and wasted staff and equipment hours it entails. Integrating a UXO risk management plan early in your project lifecycle is a strategic move and goes a long way in reducing these risks.
The step-by-step CIRIA C681 UXO Risk Management process described above is a proven and time-tested approach to managing UXO risk in an optimum manner. A suitable risk mitigation plan, when executed deliberately by qualified professionals, it helps achieve maximum value for money by ensuring:
Required risk assessments are conducted well in advance, enabling additional budgeting to be forecasted for higher-risk sites.
Encounter with UXO on site does not lead to abrupt project disruption, with an appropriate UXO risk management plan and necessary mitigations already in place.
Suitable mitigations are applied at the right place for specific groundworks, based on the assessed risk.
Where feasible, appropriate mitigations are applied at the right time in the project lifecycle, avoiding unnecessary ‘standing time’ for expensive assets deployed to site.
Recent Example Project Scenario
For a recent construction project in an area of the UK identified as being at higher risk of UXO contamination, Artios advised a client to commission UXO Watching Brief for excavations only in specific areas where mechanical excavations were being conducted below the depth of existing made-ground level, as opposed to site-wide detector survey. This approach led to significant reduction in associated time and costs for risk management.
For a project involving only limited, shallow excavations for soil surveys, Artios’ recommendation to conduct targeted investigations and surface detector sweeps proved to be the best approach for cost-effective risk management that also enabled the project to progress with minimal delays due to UXO risk.
How to Get a Transparent Quote or Budget Estimate
At Artios Global, we believe in transparent, value-driven partnerships. We know that accurate budgeting is critical for your project’s viability. We provide fixed-price proposals for desktop and detailed assessments, with no hidden fees.
Our process begins with understanding your specific site location, history and project scope. We then outline a recommended approach with a clear cost breakdown. For complex projects, we can provide scalable options to align with your budget and risk appetite.
Ready to understand the specific cost factors for your project? Contact us for a no-obligation cost assessment and proposal.
